12 November 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a list
of instructions following the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) 2024 in Vladivostok
on 3–6 September.
The documents outline key areas of support for the Far
Eastern region to achieve the country’s national development goals and
strengthen its position in the Asia-Pacific region. The president’s
instructions following the EEF addressed the implementation of infrastructure
projects in the region, including those involving international cooperation,
the creation of comfortable living conditions in the region as part of social
and cultural programmes, the expansion and modernization of the scientific and
technological base, and the development of international tourism.
“The Eastern Economic Forum is one of the tools for
the development of the Far East. The Forum addresses the most pressing issues
concerning the social sphere, the economy, and attracting investment. Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s instructions following the EEF will give a new
impetus to strengthening the macro-region. They will help to accelerate the
implementation of master plans and the renovation of cities, improve the living
standards of Far Easterners, and strengthen international cooperation with
friendly countries,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary
Representative of the Russian President in the Far Eastern Federal District Yury
Trutnev said.
Key instructions include accelerating the development
of transport infrastructure, including measures to increase container rail
transportation to Central Russia and air transportation within the Far Eastern
Federal District, expanding the use of helicopters and small aircraft, as well
as creating conditions to attract private investment in this sector.
“The president’s instructions following the EEF
underscore that strengthening the Far East is a key priority for the country.
The document touches upon priority areas that will ensure the region’s
sustainable socioeconomic development, create new jobs, and improve the
population’s living standards. Particular attention is being paid to transport
infrastructure and the creation of competitive international special economic
zones, which are the basis for attracting investment and increasing the region’s
export potential,” Adviser to the Russian President and Executive
Secretary of the EEF Organizing Committee Anton Kobyakov said.
The Russian government has also been instructed to
reduce the cost of loans for investment projects in the Far East and the Arctic
and to study the feasibility of issuing special Arctic and Far Eastern bonds in
the form of digital financial assets. In addition, there are plans to develop a
mechanism that will simplify the procedure for transferring land plots and real
estate from federal to regional ownership in order to implement master plans
for cities in the Far East.
Many of the objectives outlined by the president aim
to develop tourism in the region. Instructions in this regard include providing
subsidies to Russian credit institutions to compensate for lost profits on
loans that were issued to build hotels with fewer than 120 rooms. This measure
will help reduce investment pressure and support the development of small and
medium-sized businesses in this sector. Simplifying the visa regime for foreign
tourists and expanding opportunities for foreign tourist ships to enter Far
East seaports should also help to increase tourist flows. To support the
implementation of these objectives, a comprehensive programme will be developed
to promote tourism in foreign markets, as well as organize the ‘Far East – Land
of Adventure’ annual competition of amateur travel videos.
The instructions also address international
cooperation and include the preparation of a road map for the development of
Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island jointly with China, which could be implemented as
early as 2025. Such cooperation includes measures to create transport and border
infrastructure on the island, including an access road, a fill site, and a
checkpoint across the Russian-Chinese state border.
The full texts of the instructions following the EEF plenary session and presentation of the results of the development of the
Far East and the meeting with the moderators of the Forum sessions have been
published on the Russian president’s official website: kremlin.ru.
